1997 Pontiac BONNEVILLE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
107 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
98,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 37 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 107 complaints (12.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 21 | 19.6% |
| Braking behavior | 15 | 14.0% |
| Engine operation | 11 | 10.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 8.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 7.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 13 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 8 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 6 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 13; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 8; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 6; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 70 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 28 |
| 2001 | 14 |
| 2002 | 21 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2000: 28; 2001: 14; 2002: 21; 2003: 14; 2004: 11; 2005: 5; 2006: 4; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 11 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000082 · 2002-12-12 (December 12, 2002)
INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE ON 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. COOLANT ENTERED INTO CYLINDER #4 CAUSING ENGINE TO SEIZE. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR APPROXIMATELY $900. REOCCURING PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE, AND CALLS TO PONTIAC RESULTED IN NO SATISFACTION.
Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000082 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000906 · 2003-01-10 (January 10, 2003)
I HAVE A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE WITH POWER SEATS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE ONLY. I RECENTLY HAD THE SEAT RUNAWAY BYGOING FWD AND BACK AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT. I FINALLY HAD TO FORCE THE SWITCH TO THE BACK POSITION UNTIL IT ALL STOPPED. THE MOTOR GOT HOT AND QUIT. NOW IT NO LONGER DRIVES FWD OR BACK. I COULD HAVE HAD A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF I HAD BEEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD.
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000906 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002284 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION (EGR) FAILED CAUSING A HOLE IN THE MANIFOLD. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002284 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003133 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE AND EXPLOSION IN A 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SE 3800 (3.8L NON-SUPERCHARGED ENGINE) DUE TO A BACKFIRE UPON START-UP.
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003133 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006051 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
NAR 1/29/2003. THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO THE CONSUMER WITH A BENT WATER PUMP AND A BENT WHEEL. THE ALTERNATOR, POWER STEERING PUMP, TRANSMISSION AND EGR VALVE WERE REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006051 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016448 · 2003-04-24 (April 24, 2003)
LOSS OF COOLANT. PLASTIC AIR INTAKE MOUNTED ON TOP OF INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED LEAKING COOLANT UNDER PRESSURE INTO COMBUSTION CHAMBER. TALKED TO SEVERAL LICENSED TECHNICIANS IN THE AREA AND THEY STATE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF AIR INTAKE. $275 & LABOR. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 94,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016448 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016644 · 2003-04-28 (April 28, 2003)
TRANSMISSION BUMPS AND JERKS AT SPEEDS OVER 30 MPH. USUALLY WHEN CLIMBING A HILL. SOLUTION...LET OFF THE GAS FOR A SECOND AND RE APPLY TO STOP THE BUCKING TEMPORARILY. ALSO HAPPENED TO MY 92 BONNEVILLE WHICH HAD THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION THAT NEVER FAILED WITH OVER 180,000 MILES ON IT, BESIDES THE BUCKING. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016644 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020574 · 2003-05-27 (May 27, 2003)
WHILE ROTATING MY TIRES, I NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT SIDE STABILIZER BAR WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE LINK BOLT AND BUSHING WERE MISSING. I PURCHASED A NEW ASSEMBLY FROM PONTIAC DEALER AND INSTALLED. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 35,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020574 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
96V196000 · Seats
Reported: 1996-10-08 (October 8, 1996)
THE SEAT COVER TRIM MATERIAL DOES NOT MEET THE FLAMMABILITY REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 302, "FLAMMABILITY OF INTERIOR MATERIALS."
Consequence: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, A VEHICLE INTERIOR FIRE CAN OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COVERS ON THE FRONT SEAT BACKS, REAR SEAT CUSHION AND REAR SEAT BACK ASSEMBLIES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗